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Her lips parted, her tongue moistening them, and his nature
roared in his ears to take her. Clenching his fist, he used all his
strength to wait for her nod and carry her back to the rocky coast
rather than devour her mouth with his.
After he set her on the rocks, she scrambled away from the
water’s edge.
“Don’t forget your promise,” he teased, but he couldn’t help
it. Any more staring at the blush on her cheeks and chest and he’d
forget his vow and claim her. Even her erect nipples straining against
her wet lace bra made him dig his nails into his palms.
She huffed and snatched up her towel. Thankfully, it reached
just below her butt, leaving her long legs exposed for his admiration.
Then she batted her eyelashes at him. “I would never give you the
satisfaction.”
“Of which?” He beamed. “Drowning or bathing?”
“Both.” She inserted the corner of towel between her breasts,
locking the rest of it around her, and then grabbed her canteen. “Uh,
thank you for saving me.” She shivered, and he doubted it was
merely from the dunk in the water. “Please don’t tell the others; it’s
embarrassing.”
After his nod, she breathed out a sigh. She looked as if she
anticipated that he would haul her back into the water for a lesson.
Her movements reminded him of abused animals. He speculated
most people, who couldn’t swim but grew up around water, would
try to learn unless they experienced drowning or trauma in the past.
Could that have happened to her? There was more to this situation
than her usual stubbornness. Vulnerability even.

Her favorite childhood memories revolved around creating vibrant characters for her friends, and then acting out their adventures. Inside her fantasy worlds of darkened forests, dragon-filled glades, and iced islands, nothing was banned. From the ethereal Elvin to the most maligned Vampires, all were welcome in her fictional realities, a stark contrast to her home, where the magical and mythical was forbidden.